Scream OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.
The highly anticipated horror film Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters in the coming year, and it is gearing up for a massive gathering of familiar faces. This new chapter signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as reporter Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters returning to the fray.
"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that gave me sleepless nights," Lillard reveals.
A Triumphant Return for Fallen Characters
Reports have confirmed that three distinct characters from past films are slated to reappear in this new outing, despite dying in previous installments. The precise method of their return remains a mystery. Fans should get ready for the reappearance of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.
The Pressure of Legendary Status
For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small cameo is a long-held wish, even if he is terrified about the public's reaction. The actor clearly remembers the precise instant he received the news from the original writer.
"I remember the phone call. I remember the pleasantries. I remember him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my mind," he says. "So I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."
Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the years since the 1996 movie premiered, which made Lillard feeling quite nervous.
"The reality is, that's a part that lives in infamy, like it or not," he explains. "A part that is now embodied in each and every Ghostface mask that appears every Halloween."
The Fear of Letting Down the Fans
Now that filming has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He admits to feeling immense pressure about not wanting to be the one who damages the beloved franchise.
"It's either a success and people are excited to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the movie's gonna work. I don't know if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of responsibility to not ruin the series. I hope people leaving Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that was terrible, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"
Theories and Excitement Run High
While many dedicated fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the big question of how he and the others return persists. Maybe they exist as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Or, perhaps they are somehow all alive in a strange shared scenario. The chance of a self-referential story, inspired by earlier horror movies, also is on the table.
Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 debuts in theaters.
